A unique competition: Forensics offers youth a chance to showcase a range of different talents

Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 8:04 am

Northumberland High School’s Forensics team won the regional tournament this year with several of its members heading to the state competition, including (from left) Joey Gaskins, Emily Sprague, Joshua McKinley, Megan Baughan, Johnnie McAfee and Alexandra Pitman (not pictured).

For many people, it’s no easy feat to speak before an audience — let alone act out a script where you assume the role of a wolf, a robot or a high school girl who is part T-Rex.
But when the students of the Northumberland High School Forensics Team stand up to deliver the lines of a story, a play or poem, they are in their comfort zone, bringing to life all kinds of characters, funny and serious, happy and sad, through their voices, their gestures, their passion and enthusiasm.
Not only have these students been able to reveal a whole new side of themselves and perhaps uncover hidden talents— they have also enjoyed tremendous success; this year, six students from NHS will take on the state forensics competition on March 29 in Harrisonburg.
High school forensics is a competition that allows students to dramatically interpret a story, poem or play or deliver a prepared speech to an audience through a variety of competitive categories.
Particularly for dramatic interpretations, students may assume the role of many different characters when acting out their piece.

—Read the full story in the March 19 issue of the Northumberland Echo, on stands now!